Governance: Appointed Youth Council

In some situations youth leaders like to hand pick their leadership. This usually suggests youth leaders with control issues – but experience often confirms the wisdom of an appointed youth council. You can get a more compatible, cooperative and, if chosen well, productive and even creative team. Generally speaking, as readers of this blog will recognize, I have theological and developmental objections to strong adult leadership that leave little room for youth leadership (a good youth leader does need to be strong, but not at the expense of the youth).

• Pros:
  • Better mix of leaders
  • Disruptive and incompatible youth can be avoided (Is this really a “pro?”)
  • Better workers and better commitment to the program and its leaders
  • Efficient, especially any meetings
  • The kids feel special
• Cons:
  • The Kids feel special and may be viewed by the other youth as “teacher's pets.”
  • They become a group within the group and have an experience not shared with the larger group
  • There may be potential leaders of importance that are never called on
  • They may be too agreeable and not challenge the youth leader's assumptions and ideas
• Working with an appointed youth council
  • Pick a diverse committee representing more than subgroups but also personality types
  • Pick at least one contrarian to stir things up
  • Use a passive method of leading the meeting, not just laying out your ideas and agendas.
  • Have them poll the larger group about issues and ideas
  • Give them “feet-washing” jobs that remind them that they are servants of the other youth: work a food serving line, be responsible for cleanup after events, etc
  • As I've mentioned elsewhere in my blog, since these youth are getting plenty of attention already, you can focus on giving attention to the other youth in every other situation – to the point of ignoring the council youth.

Youth worship services for youth events and activities

Let the youth themselves design and produce youth activity worship services.

• In time they will get good at it. You may want to reserve the “meditation” for yourself. But they can do these also.
• They will need help in knowing the necessary components of a legitimate worship service, as defined by your denomination, this can often be extracted from them by having them list components as they remember them and then collectively arrange them in an appropriate order. It will stick with them better if they figure it out rather than being told.
• They probably need help in finding Bible passages that apply.
• Keep a supply of worship resources in the youth room or chapel and in your travel kit.

Your spouse's world is important too

(As I've mentioned before, I'm using the term “spouse” in a very open and inclusive fashion, without an assumption of a legal contract. It is a deep and significant relationship, way beyond a “room-mate.”)

• Unless a spouse is also called to youth work, support his/her own work and calling. Listen to their world. Don't expect them to be more enthusiastic about your world than you are of theirs.
  

A sample Unknown Destination Trip itenerary

I have put a sample UDT itinerary on the documents page

When there is unhappiness in your job

When there is unhappiness in your situation, differentiate between the ebb and flow of life and something deeper.

• If someone in particular is unhappy with you and giving you grief, is it temporary? Are they prone to periods of these attitudes, or do you think that this will continue unabated?
  
• Are you, your group or the church just in a bad place or is there something permanently evil in the situation? (The latter possibility is rare!)
  
• Weather and seasons make a difference – in my churches I have found January and February to be cranky months that simply need to be survived.
  

Unknown Destination Trip itineraries

It is important to provide parents or guardians with a detailed description of the trip before you leave. This should include all activities, with times, locations and phone numbers. The name and phone numbers of any contact people will also be helpful. These lists can be prepared and placed in sealed envelopes. When a parent drops off the child, hand them the envelope, but ask them not to open it until you leave. 

Governance: Elected Youth Council

This style of governance is when a component of a youth program, usually the “youth group” elects or has some particular system for selecting permanent leaders to do planning. Typically there is a representative from each grade level or each group (youth group, Sunday School, sports, ...)

The pros and cons are similar to those of Youth Officers, except less hierarchical and therefore easier to work with.

• Pros:
  • There is not a lot of prestige to these positions and they take time, therefore you usually get better and more capable participants than with “officers”
  • This approach gives you more consistency than less formal planning groups
  • With a representative from different ages you get their perspective and reactions
• Working with a youth council
  • This depends a bit on the size of the council and the size of the group they represent
  • Either break them into planning teams to alternate planning and executing programs
  • Or divide them into teams responsible for areas of the groups work: worship, meetings, service projects, recreation
  • Give them real power and control. Trust them. Delegate responsibility and tasks